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21. Januar 2010
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(Motorsport-Total.com) - Bei Suzuki gibt manVollgas, um mit - im Vergleich zu Honda, Ducati und Yamaha - bescheidenen Mitteln einen großen Sprung nach vorne zu machen. Die vergangenen Saisons in der MotoGP waren geprägt von Problemen. Die Mannschaft um Teamchef Paul Denning konnte das Tempo der Konkurrenz oftmals nicht mitgehen. Das soll sich 2010 ändern. Bei den ersten Testfahrten vor dem Saisonstart sollen die Fortschritte sichtbar werden.
"Das Entwicklungsteam konzentriert sich darauf, die Maschine anpassungsfähiger zu machen, es wird einige umfangreiche Chassis-Entwicklungen geben und in Sepang wird zumindest ein komplett neu designter Rahmen zum Test bereit sein", sagt Denning auf 'motogp.com'. Auch beim Motor der GSV-R habe man neue Erfahrungen. "Wir werden die Kraftentwicklung ruhiger und für den Fahrer einfacher nutzbar gestalten." Bislang konnte man die Neuheiten nur auf dem Prüfstand begutachten. Tests waren aufgrund der schlechten Witterung in Japan nicht möglich. "Wir werden also wirklich erst alles sehen, wenn wir in Sepang auf die Strecke gehen", sagt der Suzuki-Teamchef, der jedoch die Ergebnisse der hausinternen Simulationen mit Freude aufnahm. Die Jagd auf Spitzenzeiten werde beim Test dennoch nicht im Vordergrund stehen.
"Es geht mehr darum, an den Schwächen der Maschine zu arbeiten und sie anpassbarer zu machen, auch an verschiedene Bedingungen und niedrige Temperaturen", erklärt der Brite. "Suzuki hat vor dem Test in Estoril viel Arbeit erledigt und wir haben eine gute Tendenz erkannt, denn es war dort sehr kalt und wir konnten einige Probleme ausmerzen."
Als man im November in Portugal ausrückte und Neuzugang Álvaro Bautista und Testpilot Nobu Aoki auf die Bahn schickte, waren erste Fortschritte zu erkennen. Die Erfahrungen aus dem Test flossen ins das Bike für 2010 ein. "Wir wissen, welche Entwicklungen einfließen, aber wie das alles zusammenspielt werden wir erst sehen, wenn die Jungs im Februar fahren", mahnt Denning zur Vorsicht.
"Die Maschine war beim Estoril-Test definitiv besser als im Rennen. Sie war fahrbarer. Und es war einfacher, eine konstante Rundenzeit zu fahren, außerdem gab es etwas mehr Grip. Gegen Ende des Tests in Estoril begann Álvaro erstmals damit, detailliertes Feedback zur Maschine zu geben, denn bis dahin bestand sein Job darin, sich an die Maschine zu gewöhnen", so Denning abschließend, der sich von dem jungen Spanier an der Seite von Haudegen Loris Capirossi viel erwartet.
DUNGEY TAKES PHOENIX WIN AND SUPERCROSS SERIES LEAD
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 17.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki's rookie Supercross star Ryan Dungey took home his first Supercross 450-class win on Saturday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. It was Dungey's second race as part of the AMA Supercross class, and he won by a decisive margin leading the entire 20-lap race.
Dungey was in second place after three practice sessions, and he also won Heat 1 by grabbing the holeshot and leading for the entirety of the race. "I was able to get a good start in the heat race which allowed me to put in some good laps and win," Dungey said. "I felt really good and tried to carry that momentum into the Main Event. We made a few minor changes on the bike and I was able to get a really good start and put myself in a good position."
At the drop of the gate for the Main Event, Dungey shot out and nabbed the holeshot for the second time of the night. He kept his pace and led the pack around the technical track for 20 phenomenal laps. "The track was tough tonight," Dungey explained. "It was really slippery and line choice was key. So, being able to pull away from everybody and put in my own laps was helpful. The line choices were really slim and there was one good line, so I'm thankful it went well." Dungey is currently in the overall points lead with 47 points.
"Winning my first Supercross race was great. I'm really happy," Dungey said. "The Suzuki is a great bike and it's got a lot of power. It's the best of the best. I'm grateful to be part of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team. It's great to pull a win for them and I hope to do many more." Phoenix may be a lucky city for the 20-year-old Minnesota native; he won the Western Regional Lites class event there in 2009.
Team Manager Roger DeCoster was pleased with his team's performance on Saturday night. "It's so nice to win," DeCoster said. "It's the second race of the season, and the second race of Ryan's 450 career, and to come out with a win is fantastic." When asked about the future 15 races of the Supercross series, DeCoster was realistic yet optimistic. "We have a good standing now, and we have to continue getting good finishes and being on the podium every week. If we do that, we have a chance at the end of the year."
Dungey's team mate Austin Stroupe also had a successful night: Stroupe grabbed the holeshot in Heat 2, finishing fourth and putting himself in the Main Event. As Dungey took the holeshot in the big show, Stroupe was right behind him in the second spot. "Riding behind Ryan was good for a couple of laps, but the other racers were riding hard and I wasn't sure how long I could do it," Stroupe explained. "I haven't really raced a 20-lap Main before, but it went well. I was glad Ryan got the win, and I was stoked to finish the race." Stroupe is set to compete in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class this year on the RM-Z250, but is filling in for Matt Moss in the AMA Supercross class aboard the RM-Z450 for the next few rounds.
DeCoster was happy with how things went for the 19-year-old North Carolina native. "Austin was awesome tonight," DeCoster said. "He rode really well and that should give him the confidence that he belongs with the top guys. This is a good experience for him."
Main Event Results:
1. Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
2. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)
3. Josh Hill (Yamaha)
4. Ivan Tedesco (Yamaha)
5. Andrew Short (Honda)
6. Kevin Windham (Honda)
7. Austin Stroupe (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
8. Justin Brayton (Yamaha)
9. Davi Millsaps (Honda)
10. Tommy Hahn (Suzuki)
Points (after 2 rounds): 1 Dungey 47, 2 Villopoto 38, 3 Hill 35, 4 Windham 35, 5 Short 34, 6 Tedesco 32, 7 Stewart 31, 8 Brayton 26, 9 Millsaps 24, 10 Hahn 21.
ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI SET FOR PHOENIX
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 14.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Supercross team, fresh off a spectacular second-place performance by Ryan Dungey at Anaheim 1, is busy preparing for the upcoming Phoenix round of race action that takes place on January 16th at Chase Field.
And Team Manager Roger DeCoster feels particularly positive about Dungey's chances after his Anaheim performance. "I think Ryan has the potential to be on the podium on a weekly basis," DeCoster said. "If the right circumstances are there, and if he rides like he did at Anaheim 1, he'll be solid." Dungey led for 17 laps of the Anaheim 1 race, and made a charge at the end of the race to almost overtake first place. "We will meet to discuss how the riders felt about the bikes' performance during the A1 race and see if there's anything we can do to make improvements. Then we'll practice and get ready for Phoenix."
Both Dungey and team mate Austin Stroupe pulled massive holeshots aboard their fuel-injected RM-Z450 Suzukis at the season opener in Anaheim. On his first go-round on a 450, Stroupe grabbed the holeshot in his qualifier and finished a strong fourth to make it to the Main Event. Dungey got the holeshot in the Main and kept the lead for most of the race, putting himself well ahead of his competitors. Heading into Phoenix, the team is busy practicing and testing to make the already-great RM-Z450 even better. As the riders prepare for the second race of the season, Dungey is analytical in his approach. "I feel like I have room for improvement going into Phoenix," Dungey said. "We're going to put in a solid week of practice and testing, and I think with a little fine-tuning, we're going to be good. I want to take it one race at a time and be consistent, be smart, and have fun." Dungey is second in overall points for the season so far, and he wants to continue to collect points.
Stroupe is also excited about round two: "I'm looking forward to Phoenix, now that I have those first-race nerves out of my system," Stroupe said. "I never thought I'd be on the 450 this year, but it feels good. I'm definitely ready to do some work this week and get out there and race." Stroupe is slated to contest the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class on the RM-Z250 but is racing the first few West Coast 450-class events in place of team mate Matt Moss, who will return to the series in a few weeks.
RELENTLESS SUZUKI LAUNCHES 2010 BSB LINE UP
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 14.
Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing is pleased to announce its rider line-up for the 2010 British Superbike Championship after Team Manager Philip Neill secured the signatures of reigning British Superstock Champion Alastair Seeley and fellow Northern Ireland rider Michael Laverty earlier this week.
Laverty needs little introduction, having secured the 2007 British Supersport title in Relentless Suzuki colours before spearheading the team's maiden effort in the British Superbike Championship in 2008.
Seeley was something of a phenomenon during 2009, taking the British Superstock title with nine wins from nine starts on his GSX-R1000 Suzuki, before dipping his toe in the British Superbike pond as an end of season bonus.
Both men will ride factory supported Relentless Suzuki Superbike machines with iconic Suzuki numbers - Seeley will run number 34 and Laverty number 7 for the 2010 season - and team manager Philip Neill is confident of immediate success.
Philip Neill:
"Not many teams can boast the services of two British champions, which we have secured in Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley. It's fair to say our plans for this season have taken a little longer than normal to finalise as we did our best to consider the requirements of our sponsors.
"With this in mind, 2010 carries increased expectations from TAS Racing and its riders, but I am more than confident, we have chosen the correct line up in order to meet these requirements. "As a team we will enter our third term in British Superbike, and having already secured both the British Supersport and Superstock Championships, we are now ready to challenge the front running teams for the Superbike title. We fully believe the Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the correct tool for the job and with one year's development behind us already, we will hit the ground running when our testing programme begins in Spain during early March."
Neill also commented on his two new riders for the BSB series in 2010, stating: "Alastair was provisionally confirmed as part of our line up in November after delivering the 2009 British Superstock title, which in my eyes could not go unrewarded. His youthful enthusiasm belies his experience, and together with his calculated style of racing, I believe he will deliver success beyond everyone's expectation in his rookie Superbike season."
On Michael Laverty, Neill said: "Michael returns to TAS Racing after a year competing in AMA Superbike with considerable success. He will be charged with the task of spearheading our development programme, whilst challenging for a top-three championship position, in this all important year. "I firmly believe Michael has not yet had the opportunity to deliver his full potential in British Superbike racing and together with my enthusiastic work force, I am happy to put my faith in Michael."
Both riders are eager to kick-start their 2010 season in the warmer climates during March and feel 2010 will be a successful year in Relentless Suzuki colours.
Michael Laverty:
"I'm really happy to be joining the Suzuki family again and returning to the Relentless Suzuki set-up. I believe the team's GSX-R1000 is capable of winning races this year, so it's up to me to deliver. I know what I'm coming into this year having ridden for Philip before, and I know the effort the whole team has put in, to step things up. After some pre-season testing I will be aiming for wins from the word go. I really think we'll turn a few heads this year."
Alastair Seeley:
"I'm obviously glad to have found out I'll be riding a Superbike, as that's what I set my heart on after getting a taste for it at Oulton Park last season. Having Michael as a team mate will be great as he brings a lot of Superbike experience with him and that can only be good for early season set-up. I'm just looking forward to getting started in Spain and gelling with the whole team again."
The team would like to thank Suzuki GB and Relentless for their continued support. This is the ninth consecutive year that TAS Racing has been involved officially with Suzuki.
The team would also like to thank long-standing sponsor Beacon Security and additional partners: Leo Vince, Motul Lubricants, Arlen Ness, Hel, Bendix, Pirelli, RK, Talon, NGK, Skid Marx, Samco, Brembo, RHM Motorsport and GMC Signage.
Glückwunsch an Daniel Siegl vom Team Teka Suzuki
zu einem grandiosen 2. Platz beim SX1 Finale am Sonntag in Dortmund!
DUNGEY PODIUMS IN ANAHEIM SUPERCROSS DEBUT
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 10.
Reigning Supercross Lites and AMA 250cc Motocross class champion Ryan Dungey raced to second place in his first Supercross Main event at Saturday's 2010 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM season opener at Anaheim Stadium in California.
The Rockstar Makita Yoshimura rider took a close second place to winner James Stewart aboard the RM-Z450 Suzuki in front of almost 44,000 spectators at Angel Stadium.
Dungey had the second-fastest lap time in practice and remained consistent throughout practice and qualifying. At the drop of the gate for the Main, Dungey and his fuel-injected RM-Z450 shot out of the gate and grabbed the holeshot. He continued to put distance between himself and Stewart, who was in second place, leading for an astounding 17 laps amidst the roar of the crowd who stood and cheered the entire 19-minute race. As lappers began to factor into the race, Dungey gave up the lead to Stewart but didn't give up the race: He battled the final three laps, nearly overtaking Stewart on the last lap. At the wave of the chequered flag, Dungey took the second spot on the podium. "I'm really happy with Ryan's finish" Team Manager Roger DeCoster said after the race. "I think for his first season on the 450, it's awesome. He did really, really well. I mean, when you look at third place was half a lap back, the whole team is really happy. I had a good feeling we'd be on the podium before the race, but the way he did it was even better than I expected. You can see Ryan did not luck into that position today; he rode solidly, like a veteran." "Tonight was fun," Dungey said, surrounded by a crowd of fans outside the Rockstar Makita Suzuki race rig. "I came in second, but I can't be mad. I worked really hard this off-season to make sure that I would be up front, because that's where I want to be. I was able to get some really good, clean laps out front and I think that was very valuable." "Right off the start I had instant power," Dungey said of his holeshot. "I have never launched out of the gate like that before, and it stayed on and kept powering. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki bike did a really great job tonight, EFI, suspension, the whole team helped me make the bike work great and I'm glad we could put it on the podium." As for knowing the reigning Supercross champion was behind him, Dungey said, "I knew he was behind me from the beginning. I could hear him, I know what his bike sounds like, but I was just trying to ride my race." Austin Stroupe also made his Supercross debut on Saturday night. The 19 year old is set to compete in the Supercross Lites East series, but due to an injury to team mate Matt Moss, Stroupe will race the first few rounds of the 450 class. Stroupe grabbed the holeshot in the second qualifier, ahead of James Stewart. In the Main Event Stroupe completed four laps before succumbing to a mistake that took him out of the race. "It's too bad that Austin and Chad Reed bumped, but it showed that Austin can do well on a 450," DeCoster said. "It's his first race, and in his first qualifier he got fourth and the holeshot, which is really good." "Getting the holeshot in the qualifier, that was definitely the highlight of the night for me," said Stroupe. "I didn't know what to believe. I didn't know if I was in a different world or what! I prayed on the line for a good start, because I just wanted to get qualified for the Main, and then I got the holeshot and I heard the fans cheering." Though Stroupe won't be competing in the entire 450 class series, he knows that this experience will help him in his battle for the Lites East Championship. After the race, Stroupe reflected on the lesson he could take from his shortened debut. "I learned tonight that I just have to be on my game all the time. Every guy out there is blistering fast, but I think the switch to Rockstar Makita Suzuki has been nothing but great for me and I'm comfortable here." Watching the race was team mate Matt Moss. The Australian will wait a few more weeks before making his Supercross debut, but he's already mentally preparing for his first race. "I feel good on a 450, and as long as I'm 100 per cent I think I can go out there and do well. I don't want to go out there half hearted, I want to go out there and give it my all. I want to show them what I've got." "That race was amazing," Moss said after the return of his team mates from the track. "It was great to watch Dungey. He went from a 250 championship to battling the best in the world. He pretty much dominated for 17 laps. This only my second time being at the AMA Supercross races, and when you watch it on TV you dream of watching a battle like that, and to see it unfold in person was amazing." A Suzuki RM-Z250 was also on the podium Saturday night as Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki, Presented by Canidae's Ryan Morais took the third spot in the Supercross Lites West Series.
Supercross Main Event: 1. James Stewart (Yamaha); 2. Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki); 3. Kevin Windham (Honda); 4. Andrew Short (Honda); 5. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki); 6. Josh Hill (Yamaha); 7. Ivan Tedesco (Yamaha); 8. Justin Brayton (Yamaha); 9. Davi Millsaps (Honda); 10. Grant Langston (Yamaha).
MotoGP-Neuling Alvaro Bautista präsentiert sich nun auch in der offiziellen Teambekleidung seines Suzuki-Werksteams - Startnummer 19 bleibt
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Alvaro Bautista wagt nach drei Jahren in der 250er-Weltmeisterschaft den Sprung in die MotoGP. Als neuer Teamkollege von Altmeister Loris Capirossi startet der 125er-Weltmeister von 2006 künftig für das Suzuki-Werksteam. Bei den ersten Testfahrten für sein neues Team musste der ehemalige Aspar-Pilot noch auf einer schwarzen Maschine und in einer schwarz-weißen Lederkombi antreten. Doch nach dem Jahreswechsel zeigt sich Bautista erstmals im offiziellen Himmelblau des Werksteams.
Erst im Dezember hatte Suzuki seinen Vertrag mit Hauptsponsor Rizla um zwei weitere Jahre verlängert. Somit scheint das werksseitige Engagement des japanischen Herstellers zumindest bis 2011 gesichert. Bautista steht für den selben Zeitraum bei Suzuki unter Vertrag. Während Bautista künftig in für ihn ungewohnten Farben und in einer neuen Klasse an den Start geht, behält der 16-fache Grand-Prix-Sieger seine altbekannte neongelbe Startnummer 19. Capirossi bleibt bei seiner Lieblingsnummer 65.
ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI SET FOR ANAHEIM OPENER
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 6.
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki Supercross team is prepped and ready to compete at Anaheim 1, the first round of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship, this weekend.
With the direction of motocross legend and Team Manager Roger DeCoster and Assistant Team Manager Ray Tetherton, the entire team is at the top of their game with the help of the championship-winning RM-Z450 and all-new fuel-injected RM-Z250. And with a roster of winning athletes that includes Lites Champion Ryan Dungey and Australian Lites Champion Matt Moss moving up to the pro Supercross class and Austin Stroupe in the Lites East series, the team is looking to have a great 2010 season.
Reigning Supercross Lites West Champion and AMA Motocross 250 Champion Dungey - a member of the winning U.S. Motocross of Nations team - is moving up to the 450 class this year. He's been putting the RM-Z450 to the test, and both racer and bike are in winning form. "We have a lot of hopes resting on Dungey for the 2010 season," DeCoster said. "He will be our main guy and I believe he is capable to adapt to the big boy's class, yet we need to stay realistic as everyone moving up has needed some time to adapt. Maybe the biggest difference is that now it's not eight or nine SX events to compete in but 17 in row and there is no time for a break or to regroup." Dungey's fluid riding style and his ability to race smart will help him make a big impact in the Supercross series. "I'm really looking forward to this season, and I'm excited," Dungey said. "We've done a lot of preparation in the off-season, and the goal is to go out there and get my first win. I want to be in the hunt and I think we can make that happen. I'm going to do my best, I have a great team that works 100 per cent and I can't wait to get out there and race. I'm ready." Adding to Dungey's chances of winning is mechanic Mike "Goose" Gosselaar, who wrenched on Ricky Carmichael's championship-winning Suzukis in the past.
Australian Pro Lites Supercross and Australasian Pro Lites Champion Moss is coming to the U.S. series and will be taking on the competition with his race-ready RM-Z450. Moss sustained an injury in the final Australian SX race of the season on December 5th in which he compressed the T5 vertebrae in his back, but he's on track to make his U.S. Supercross debut in the coming weeks. DeCoster said, "We had big hopes to see Matt Moss making the move up from Lites at the same time as Ryan, but due to his injuries sustained on a 450 after wining the Lites title in Australia, Matt will probably miss the first six events. I have been told that he is pretty resilient and should be able to come back strong." Moss is expected to recover in time to line up at the starting gate for most of the Supercross races and is looking forward to competing alongside Dungey aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450.
Austin Stroupe will be riding the RM-Z250 and competing in the Pro Lites East series after finishing second in the series in 2009. "Our Lites rider, Austin Stroupe, will do the East Coast Lites and will take the place of Moss in the Supercross class while we are at the West Coast events. Austin has been doing well in his preparation." Stroupe is consistently one of the fastest racers on the track, and with the help of the all-new fuel-injected RM-Z250, he's poised to take the Pro Lites class by storm and get some valuable experience riding Moss' RM-Z450. "I'm really looking forward to getting out there and racing this year," Stroupe said. "I've got a great team, a great bike I've been putting in a lot of time on, and I feel really good. I'm ready to go."
Team Suzuki Press Office - January 5 - SUZUKI ANNOUNCES XTREME ROCKSTAR TEAM
American Suzuki has announced its Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki amateur team plans for the 2010 season. Led by Team Manager Ed Torrance and team owner Bobby Hewitt, the 2010 Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki team will consist of two riders and will focus on preparing them for their pro careers. The racers will be competing on Suzuki's line-up of championship-winning bikes, the all-new RM-Z250 and race-proven RM-Z450.
The Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki line-up will consist of Ian Trettel and Landon Currier. "Ian just came off a dominating performance at Mini O's and I believe the Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki team will be able to provide him the tools to win more championships and gain the skills to begin a successful pro career," stated Brian Noah, Suzuki Motocross Support Specialist. "Landon Currier is new to Suzuki in 2010, and after only weeks on his new bikes, is showing the speed required to win races in the hotly-contested B classes." With Hewitt and Torrance, the Xtreme Rockstar team was created to help cater to riders who are getting ready to make the next step and prepare for their professional debut. "I'm really excited about the opportunity we have with American Suzuki. Having two great riders who understand the program and the commitment that is required with Ian and Landon is going to make this year another successful season at Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki," stated Hewitt, owner of Xtreme Amateur and Pro Lites, LLC. The Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki team offers a semi, top-notch race mechanics, and the best equipment possible to provide the riders the best opportunity for victories. The team also helps riders prepare for the future by bridging the gap from amateur to pro racing. Trettel, from Silver Springs, Florida, will compete in the 250A and 450A classes. From Brush Prairie, Washington, Currier will compete in the 250B and 450B classes.
The Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki team is currently preparing for its debut at the Lake Whitney Spring Classic which takes place on March 8-13.
RIZLA SUZUKI BACKS BOTH SILVERSTONE GRANDS PRIX 16/12/2009Team Suzuki Press Office- December 16.
Loris Capirossi's Rizla Suzuki GSV-R was present at the Silverstone circuit in England to celebrate the announcement that the Northamptonshire circuit has secured the long-term future of the FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix to sit alongside the return of MotoGP to the famous British circuit in 2010.
Staff based at Silverstone's Northamptonshire headquarters were celebrating the fact that the circuit will host not one, but two British Grands Prix in 2010. In addition to securing the new 17-year F1 deal with Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management (FOM), the motorcycle Grand Prix will also be returning to the home of British motor racing in 2010 - the first time in over 20 years. To mark the occasion, the #65 Rizla Suzuki GSV-R was joined at Silverstone by dignitaries from the local councils, government officials and Lewis Hamilton's 2009 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car.
Capirossi and the Suzuki GSV-R will be joined at Silverstone by new Rizla Suzuki signing Álvaro Bautista and the rest of the MotoGP paddock for the sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship on Sunday June 20th with F1 heading to Silverstone on Sunday July 11th.
Suzuki-Neuzugang Leon Haslam kann nach drei erfolgreichen Tests eine positive Bilanz ziehen: "Ich habe allen Grund zum Optimismus"
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Leon Haslam absolvierte in den vergangenen Wochen in Portimao, Phillip Island und Valencia drei Testfahrten für das Suzuki-Alstare-Team. Der neue Superbike-Partner von Sylvain Guintoli überzeugte dabei sowohl durch schnelle Runden im Qualifyingtrimm als auch mit konstanten Rennspeed.
"Ich bin seit sieben Wochen ein Teammitglied von Suzuki und wir absolvierten in dieser Zeit einen sehr soliden Testplan", zog der 26-jährige Brite ein positives Zwischenfazit."Ich glaube, dass wir uns im Hinblick auf die kommende Saison auf dem Weg zur Spitze befinden."
Zuletzt testete Haslam in Valencia: "Mit diesen beiden Tagen bin ich sehr zufrieden, denn da zeigten wir eine gute Konstanz." Mit seiner Suzuki drehte er drei Runden von 1:34,0 Minuten am Stück. "Das ist etwa eine Sekunde schneller als im Valencia-Rennen 2009. Damals wurde ich in beiden Rennen Fünfter. Ich habe also allen Grund zum Optimismus."
Guintoli hat mit Suzuki "große Ziele"
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Alstare-Suzuki-Neuzugang Sylvain Guintoli ist zwar ein Rookie in der Superbike-Weltmeisterschaft, an internationaler Erfahrung mangelt es dem 27-jährigen Franzosen aber nicht. Schon im Jahr 2000 stieg er in die Motorrad-Weltmeisterschaft ein und fuhr bis 2006 vor allem in der 250er-Klasse. Es folgten zwei Jahre in der MotoGP, die allerdings wenig erfolgreich verliefen.
Also richtete Guintoli seine Karriereplanung vor der Saison 2009 neu aus und wechselte in die Britische Superbike-Meisterschaft. Nun kehrt er endgültig zurück auf die internationale Bühne: Nachdem er bereits das WSBK-Saisonfinale 2009 in Portimão für Alstare-Suzuki bestritten hat, fährt er in der kommenden Saison als Teamkollege von Leon Haslam ganz für das Team von Francis Batta. Und für seine erste volle Saison in der Superbike-Weltmeisterschaft hat sich der Franzose einiges vorgenommen. "Suzuki und ich haben große Ziele. Wir sind in der Weltmeisterschaft, um zu gewinnen", erklärt er auf der offiziellen Internetseite der Serie. "In den vergangenen Jahren hatten sie Probleme, aber das neue Bike hat viel Potenzial und wir werden schon am Anfang ganz sicher versuchen, auf das Podium zu fahren."
"Es war ein schwieriges Jahr, aber nicht, weil das Bike nicht konkurrenzfähig gewesen wäre."
Gemeinsam mit Teamkollege Haslam soll er Alstare-Suzuki wieder zu einem Spitzenteam machen. Er verspüre jedoch nur positiven Druck, so Guintoli: "Denn das Team hat eine positive Art, zu arbeiten. Alles läuft bestens und wir wollen, dass es so bleibt. Im vergangenen Jahr hat Suzuki gut angefangen, aber dann haben sich Max Neukirchner und auch Yukio Kagayama verletzt. Es war ein schwieriges Jahr, aber nicht, weil das Bike nicht konkurrenzfähig gewesen wäre. Suzuki und Alstare geben mir die Chance, das Team wieder aufzubauen. ich spüre diese positive Energie, das motiviert."
Die ersten Testfahrten in Australien seien vielversprechend gewesen, berichtet Guintoli weiter: "Wir sind viele Runden gefahren und waren drei Tage lang vollauf damit beschäftigt, neue Teile zu testen. Wir hatten viel Zeit, uns zu verbessern und keinen Druck." Über Rundenzeiten könne er zwar nicht sprechen, "aber es war alles sehr positiv", verrät der Franzose.
Und auch von den nächsten Testfahrten in Valencia erwartet er sich einiges: "Suzuki gibt für nächstes Jahr richtig Gas. Schon zwischen Portimão und Australien hat sich das Bike sehr verändert. Es gibt viele neue Teile, die wir ausprobieren müssen. Aber Testen bedeutet ja, alles für das nächste Jahr vorzubereiten."
TEAM SUZUKI INCREASES AMA RACING EFFORTS IN 2010
Team Suzuki Press Office - December 7.
American Suzuki has announced its significant racing agenda for 2010 that will see the Suzuki Road Racing, Supercross, Motocross and ATV teams managed by long-time development partners Yoshimura.
Suzuki will commit to a larger racing effort along with returning sponsors Rockstar Energy Drink and Makita tools, which will be run by long-time partner Yoshimura R&D of America, and will house all of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki racing teams under one roof.
"Suzuki products are truly industry leading and we stand behind them 100 per cent," said Senior Advertising Manager Steve Bortolamedi. "We proved that last year with our six titles. For 2010, what better way to demonstrate this again than by putting our reputation on the line?" The Rockstar Makita Suzuki racing efforts won an unprecedented six championships in 2009, dominating the Supercross, Motocross, Road Racing and ATV championship series, and Suzuki has committed to putting the competition-crushing GSX-Rs, RM-Zs, and QuadRacer on top of the podium in 2010.
"Yoshimura will be managing Suzuki racing efforts in Supercross, Motocross, Road Racing, and ATV Racing," Yoshimura R&D Senior Vice President Don Sakakura said. "We hope to be able to showcase the performance of the Suzuki line of high-performance motorcycles and ATVs. Suzuki is proud of their products and is ready for the upcoming racing season. We at Yoshimura are equally looking forward to 2010." Suzuki revealed its impressive roster of racers for the 2010 season on Friday at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California:
Road Racing:
Tommy Hayden and Blake Young are both returning to take the championship-winning GSX-R1000 to the top of the AMA Pro Superbike class. Supercross/ Motocross:
AMA Supercross and Motocross 2009 Champion Ryan Dungey is returning to the team for 2010 aboard the unstoppable RM-Z450. Australian Matt Moss, who won the 2009 Australian National Pro Lites Championship as well as the Australasian Supercross Pro Lites Championship, will join Dungey in the 450 class. Rounding out the team will be Austin Stroupe, who's set to compete in the Pro Lites East series aboard the RM-Z250. ATV: Back-to-back AMA ATV Motocross champion Dustin Wimmer will defend his number 1 plate aboard the QuadRacer R450, joined by racing up-and-comer Josh Creamer. GNCC: Josh Strang will return to the XC1 class to win with the RM-Z450. When asked about Suzuki's chances for the 2010 season, Sakakura was optimistic, "With great sponsors like Rockstar, Makita and the Suzuki family of program partners, it really frees us up to go out and win races. With team managers like Roger DeCoster in Motocross and Supercross, Pete Doyle in Road Racing, and Kory Ellis and Kevin Mummah in ATV, I'd say we are looking pretty good." Suzuki's "Champions Choose Suzuki Tour" is travelling to all the IMS motorcycle events, allowing the public to get a close-up view of Suzuki's numerous championship-winning machines. The tour includes Mat Mladin's 2009 GSX-R1000 Superbike, which helped the legendary racer capture his seventh AMA Superbike title.
Suzuki kurz vor Vertragsverlängerung mit Rizla
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Die finanzielle Zukunft des Suzuki-Werksteams in der MotoGP scheint gesichert. Nach Informationen von 'MCN' haben sich Suzuki und Titelsponsor Rizla auf einen Vertragsverlängerung für die Jahre 2010 und 2011 geeinigt. Die Unterschrift soll demnächst erfolgen.
Damit hätte Suzuki das Budget, bis Ende 2011 zwei Maschinen in der MotoGP einzusetzen. In den vergangenen Monaten gab es hartnäckige Gerüchte, dass sich Suzuki in Folge der Wirtschaftskrise wie Kawasaki aus der Königsklasse zurückziehen könnte.
In der kommenden Saison fährt Suzuki mit Altmeister Loris Capirossi und Rookie Alvaro Bautista in der MotoGP. Suzuki kurz vor Vertragsverlängerung mit Rizla
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Die finanzielle Zukunft des Suzuki-Werksteams in der MotoGP scheint gesichert. Nach Informationen von 'MCN' haben sich Suzuki und Titelsponsor Rizla auf einen Vertragsverlängerung für die Jahre 2010 und 2011 geeinigt. Die Unterschrift soll demnächst erfolgen.
Damit hätte Suzuki das Budget, bis Ende 2011 zwei Maschinen in der MotoGP einzusetzen. In den vergangenen Monaten gab es hartnäckige Gerüchte, dass sich Suzuki in Folge der Wirtschaftskrise wie Kawasaki aus der Königsklasse zurückziehen könnte.
In der kommenden Saison fährt Suzuki mit Altmeister Loris Capirossi und Rookie Alvaro Bautista in der MotoGP.
Schwantz mit Suzuki in den MotoGP? Erste Zweifel!
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Eigentlich hatte der amerikanische Ex-Weltmeister Kevin Schwantz damit geliebäugelt, 2011 als Teamchef in die MotoGP zu kommen. Gemeinsam mit JiR-Boss Gianluca Montiron stellte er die Überlegung an, übernächstes Jahr in der Königsklasse ein neues Suzuki-Satellitenteam an den Start zu bringen.
Doch inzwischen bekommt Schwantz Zweifel, ob dieser Plan so gut ist. Angesichts der mangelnden Erfolge, die Suzuki zuletzt vorweisen konnte, ist sich der Amerikaner nicht sicher, "ob ich derzeit eine Suzuki leasen möchte." Gegenüber 'MCN' sagte er: "Sie haben genügend Probleme im Werksteam und ich denke nicht, dass ich da noch einen Schritt dahinter stehen möchte."
Zwar sei immer sein Traum gewesen, sein eigenes MotoGP-Team zu haben, betont Schwantz. Doch nun wird für ihn die Option, in Montirons Moto2-Team einzusteigen, wieder interessant: "Vielleicht kann ich in diesem Team zeigen, was ich kann." Und wenn sich in Sachen MotoGP-Team doch noch etwas ergibt, "dann hätte ich schon etwas Erfahrung gesammelt."
YOSHIMURA SET FOR WORLD SUPERBIKE CHALLENGE!
Team Suzuki Press Office - November 30.
Tuning specialists Yoshimura is set to enter the World Superbike Championship in 2010 using the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
The Suzuka 8 Hour World Endurance Championship-winning team will enter selected races as a wild-card entry with the aim of gathering information and technical knowledge for the next generation of Yoshimura aftermarket products.
In a statement issued by Yoshimura Japan, President Fujio Yoshimura said: "Yoshimura has been associated with motorcycle racing for nearly 60 years and we must thank the sport for the passion it has given to us, along with the fans and team sponsors who have shared the same passion for such a long time.
"Yoshimura has always put its efforts into the development of new ideas, and our challenges have created many products. Our first 4-into-1 race exhaust, which was developed during our first overseas challenge in the USA in 1971, is the one which represents our history and one that took us into a new era in racing and the street market with a wide variety of aftermarket business. "Now Team Yoshimura has decided to embark on a new challenge; to enter selective WSBK races in 2010 as a wild-card entrant. It should give us further opportunities to develop more new, high-quality aftermarket products for the worldwide motorcycle market.
"The economic situation has been very tough and it is not easy to take on new challenges, but we believe we still have to pursue these new challenges to support our ongoing development programme."
WATERS CLINCHES AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE TITLE
Team Suzuki Press Office - November 30.
Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Josh Waters dominated both races at the final round of the 2009 Australian Superbike series at Victoria's Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday to claim the Championship in his rookie season - and the team's sixth national Superbike crown.
Waters (22) held off the challenges of championship rivals Glenn Allerton and WayneMaxwell to claim the number one plate in a thrilling winner-take-all finale to the seven-round series.
In a memorable day for the team, Waters' Team Joe Rocket Suzuki team mate Shawn Giles and Satellite rider Robbie Bugden shared in the celebrations with second and fourth respectively for the round, with Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Troy Herfoss claiming his first race victory on his Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Australian Supersport Championship.
Waters had entered the round two points adrift of defending champion Allerton and seven points clear of Maxwell, but withstood the pressure placed on him by his rivals to claim the title.
Waters took victory in the opening 10-lap race by 6.126sec over Allerton with Giles just 0.046sec adrift in third.
In the Championship-deciding final race, Waters again proved too strong, taking the win by 3.176sec from three-time Australian Superbike Champion Giles with Allerton third.
"I've never felt as nervous as I did today," said Waters. "The team has been fantastic and worked so hard to give me a bike that would do the job. I knew when I had my team mate sitting behind me as wingman in the last race that the title was mine."
After entering the round two points adrift of defending champion Allerton, Waters finished the 2009 season on 301 points, 10 clear of Allerton and 56 ahead of third-placed Maxwell.
"Congratulations to Josh - that was an awesome ride he put in today," said Allerton.
Title contender Maxwell saw his chances of the title disappear on the opening lap of race one when he crashed heavily after hitting a patch of water as he exited Turn 11.
Waters, Giles and three-time New Zealand Superbike Champion Bugden gave Suzuki three riders in the top five in the standings and underlined the performance of the Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 in its debut season and just its fifth race meeting.
In the Australian Supersport Championship, Herfoss, the 2008 US Supermoto Champion, claimed his first race win in his rookie road-racing season, taking a thrilling victory in the opening 12-lap race by 0.080sec over Bryan Staring.
A fourth in race two saw 22-year-old Herfoss tie on points with 2008 champion Jamie Stauffer on the day, the latter being awarded the overall win on count-back by race officials.
Staring finished third overall for the round to claim the 2009 Australian Supersport Championship with Herfoss an impressive fifth on the championship points table in his debut season.
Phil Tainton - Team Manager:
"It's been a great weekend for the team - I'm so proud of Josh and the whole squad. Josh thoroughly deserves his win as he's so dedicated - he's a typical dedicated Aussie racer.
"The whole team has worked so hard for this championship. It's been one of the most competitive seasons I can remember and to come down to the last race to decide the championship is a great way to finish.
"Shawn and Robbie should be proud of their results today and Troy taking his first race win in Supersport has made it a weekend to remember. I didn't think it would be this soon, but Troy is a very talented rider and it's a great result to be mixing it with those guys in his first season."
Joshua Waters:
"What can I say - the team has been fantastic and the bike was great all weekend. I can't thank the team enough. I honestly didn't expect I'd be in this position when I started the season on the Superbike.
"I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me and all those who have believed in me - and especially my Mum and Dad who have sacrificed so much so I could go racing. Phil and Lynne Tainton have taken me in as part of their family, my mechanic Hayden Joyce never stops working and Shawn is always there to help me and offer advice.
"I'd like to dedicate this win to two good mates of mine, who lost their lives doing what they love - Kirk McCarthy and Judd Greedy. This one is for you guys."
Shawn Giles:
"I'd like to congratulate Josh on the Championship - it just shows what a young guy can do. The team's championship success says a lot about how good the new GSX-R1000 is.
"The team has worked so hard this year and put in lots and lots of hours getting the bikes developed - it's a credit to everyone. To give the team a one-two in the final race is a great way to finish off the season."
Robbie Budgen:
"I really wanted to give the team a one-two-three in the final race but I began to lose grip at the rear and dropped off the pace a bit in the closing laps.
"Phillip Island is a track that places big demands on set-up as the corners are so fast. You need everything spot-on and that's a challenge when the weather conditions keep changing. I am really happy with the season and to have three GSX-R1000s in the top five shows the calibre of Suzuki's Superbike. Now it is time to go and defend the New Zealand Superbike Championship.
"I'd like to congratulate Josh on the Championship - awesome effort."
Troy Herfoss:
"To be honest, I was hoping for those wet conditions we had in race one and to get the win was great. I feel okay in dodgy conditions and feel I can race with those guys now. I'm still learning every time I go out. I'm still getting used to having to hang my body off the bike after years of Supermoto racing.
"Congratulations to Josh on his Championship.
It's great to be part of Team Joe Rocket Suzuki."
AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP:
Superbike Overall Results - Round 7:
1 Josh Waters (Suzuki GSX-R1000);
2 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000);
3 Glenn Allerton;
4 Robert Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000);
5 Grant Hay;
6 Trent Gibson (Suzuki GSX-R1000);
7 Craig Coxhell;
8 Kris McLaren;
9 Chris Trounson;
10 Jordan Burgess.
Final Superbike Championship Points (after 7 rounds): 1 Josh Waters (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 301pts; 2 Glenn Allerton 291; 3 Wayne Maxwell 245; 4 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 234; 5 Robert Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 218; 6 Craig Coxhell 190; 7 Jamie Stauffer 177; 8 Dan Stauffer 156; 9 Kevin Curtain 153; 10 Chris Trounson 126.
Supersport Overall Results - Round 7: 1 Jamie Stauffer; 2 Troy Herfoss (Suzuki GSX-R600); 3 Bryan Staring; 4 Shannon Johnson; 5 Chas Hern (Suzuki GSX-R600); 6 Christian Casella; 7 Jed Metcher; 8 Ben Attard; 9 Brodie Waters; 10 Dustin Goldsmith.
Final Supersport Championship Points (after 7 rounds): 1 Bryan Staring 313pts; 2 Jamie Stauffer 300; 3 Ben Attard 216; 4 Shannon Johnson 206; 5 Troy Herfoss (Suzuki GSX-R600) 197; 6 Scott Charlton 171; 7 Christian Casella 169; 8 Jed Metcher 142; 9 Chris Quinn 139; 10 Chas Hern (Suzuki GSX-R600) 133.
Suzuki-Test: Acht Vögel erledigt!
Trotz einiger Turbulenzen verlief der Alstare-Suzuki-Test auf Phillip Island erfolgreich.
Leon Haslam ist froh über seinen Wechsel ins Alstare-Suzuki-Werksteam
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Beim Test des Alstare-Suzuki-Teams auf Phillip Island herrschte eine Hitzewelle - und ein Vögelsterben! Denn Leon Haslam und Sylvain Guintoli nahmen mit ihren Motorrädern "mindestens acht Vögel" mit - "einen traf Sylvain sogar mit dem Helm", wie Haslam gegenüber 'Motor Cycle News' berichtet.
Der 26-jährige Brite absolvierte an den drei Tagen 280 Runden und zeigte sich anschließend zufrieden: "Es war das erste Mal, dass ich für ein Werksteam gefahren bin. Man bildet sich als Privatfahrer immer ein, dass das Gras im Nachbargarten grüner ist, aber das ist wirklich so", grinst er. "Das Team hat nicht einen einzigen Handgriff verpatzt. Alles ist so gut organisiert, dass ich nur noch das Motorrad fahren muss, was perfekt für mich ist."Rundenzeiten wurden nicht bekannt gegeben, "aber wegen der Hitze waren schnelle Zeiten sowieso nur am Morgen oder am Abend drin. Ich darf nicht sagen, wie schnell ich war, aber ich kann sagen, dass ich wirklich glücklich bin."
Haslam testete genau wie Guintoli unter anderem auch verschiedene Gabelkonstruktionen von Öhlins und Showa. Insider gehen davon aus, dass Alstare-Suzuki 2010 ausschließlich auf Öhlins setzen wird.
Yoshimura mit Kagayama in der WSBK?
(Motorsport-Total.com) - Das japanische Yoshimura-Suzuki-Team plant den Aufstieg in die Superbike-Weltmeisterschaft und die Fahrerplanung scheint voranzuschreiten. So ist im Gespräch, Yukio Kagayama ins Team zu holen. Der 35-jährige Japaner würde reichlich Erfahrung in der Serie und mit Suzuki mitbringen: Kagayama fuhr von 2005 bis zum Saisonende 2009 für Alstare-Suzuki in der Superbike-WM.
Zudem gilt als wahrscheinlich, dass Daisaku Sakai, der bisher für das Team in der Japanischen Meisterschaft gefahren ist, mit in die Weltmeisterschaft aufsteigt. Beide Personalien sind aber noch nicht offiziell bestätigt.
Außerdem plant Yoshimura offenbar, nicht die komplette Saison 2010 zu bestreiten, sondern nur an drei oder vier Rennwochenenden teilzunehmen.
SUZUKI BEGINS 2010 SUPERBIKE TESTS AT FONTANA 26/11/2009 - Team Suzuki Press Office - November 26.
Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Tommy Hayden and Blake Young are fine-tuning their race bikes and gearing up to make Suzuki's championship-winning GSX-R1000 a winner again in 2010. Hayden and Young were recently out on their new 2010 GSX-R1000s for two days of testing at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California before the beginning of the AMA Superbike season.
Hayden, coming off an impressive 2009 Superbike season, is making preparations to take the championship in 2010. He's been testing his new race bike for the last two days, putting in hundreds of laps and getting a feel for his updated race machine. "So far, so good," Hayden commented. "Testing has been going well and things have been really smooth. We have a lot of stuff to work on, but so far it's been positive and feedback has been good. There are several small changes here and there that we've made to the bike and hopefully they'll add up to a big improvement once we get closer to the start of the season. There's a lot more horsepower on this bike; I can definitely feel the difference.
"2009 was a good season, but I definitely feel like we left room for improvement. We're building on a lot of things and the bike is going to be even better, and another year with the team should help as well. I'm expecting big things so I'm excited for the 2010 season to get here and to make it happen."
Hayden's team mate Blake Young had a great rookie Superbike season and is poised to challenge Hayden for the title now that seven-time champion Mat Mladin has retired. Young is excited by the results from this first test: "This was our first test of the year and it went really well. Every year Suzuki seems to outdo themselves and make the GSX-R1000 better and better and so far that seems to be the case again this year. It's still early and we're testing a lot of things, but it's on track to being better than the 2009 bike. One noticeable change is a large increase in horsepower."
Peter Doyle, after working with Mat Mladin on his championship run, is now Blake's crew chief. Pete will bring a wealth of experience to Blake's effort and this is a big plus for the Wisconsin racer. "This year I'm working with crew chief Peter Doyle. I'm really looking forward to working with him and to getting that first race win under my belt. Hopefully after that, the wins will keep coming and a championship will follow. One thing for sure, having Pete on my team is a huge plus."
For now the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team will continue to test and refine the 2010 race bikes to be ready for the AMA Pro Superbike season opener in Daytona, which will be the 69th running of Speed Week at the Florida venue.
CONSTRUCTIVE TEST FOR RIZLA SUZUKI IN PORTUGAL 20/11/2009 - Team Suzuki Press Office - November 20.
Rizla Suzuki has concluded its final track action of 2009 with new signing Álvaro Bautista and Factory test rider Nobuatsu Aoki completing a three-day test at the Estoril circuit in Portugal.
Bautista used the three days to continue his acquaintance with the Suzuki GSV-R and the performance of a MotoGP machine by completing over 200 laps of the 4,182m Portuguese track. His rhythm and speed increased step by step, eventually lapping consistently at 1'38.5, a time comparable to the Rizla Suzuki racers when they came to Portugal for the Grand Prix last month - despite cooler, lower grip conditions at the test. Bautista was able to ride the GSV-R in a number of conditions over the three days with rain on day one, overcast skies on the second day and sunny, but cool conditions on the final day. He also tested some new specification engine components, aerodynamic parts and Akrapovic exhaust systems on day three and was able to confirm team-mate Loris Capirossi's conclusions from the recent Valencian test.
Suzuki's Test-Rider Aoki continued with the fundamental test programme that regular racer Capirossi had begun during the test at Valencia, following the final race of the season earlier this month. He worked hard with Capirossi's crew to continue the assessment of many new parts that will now be taken back to the Japanese factory for further re-evaluation during the winter test ban, which will be vital to the decision making process in readiness for the first test of 2010.
Bautista and Capirossi will now be sidelined by the enforced winter test ban that comes into operation at the end of this month and ends at the beginning of February next year. The pair will next be in action at Sepang in Malaysia in early February as the team and factory continues to prepare for the 2010 MotoGP season. The first race of next season gets underway beneath the floodlights at Losail in Qatar on Sunday April 11th.
Paul Denning - Team Manager: "Suzuki is very pleased to have been able to complete this test for two reasons - firstly to give Álvaro essential additional seat-time on the GSV-R and secondly to give Nobu the chance to do some important testing on a GP track outside of Japan. This has allowed him to test some fundamental changes in readiness for the 'real world' conditions of next year's race season and Nobu did a very detailed and committed job at the test. Nobody in Suzuki or in the team is under any illusions regarding the amount of additional performance needed out of the GSV-R for 2010 and whilst the test items have not been night-and-day differences, they will certainly help the overall package be a lot stronger when we get the new bike at Sepang in February.
"Álvaro has been very impressive over the three days and has completed 212 laps with absolutely no errors. His pace at the end of the test is very respectable, especially considering that there were only two bikes out there on track and with cooler conditions and no rubber being laid down the conditions were not as good as they were at the race weekend last month. He has gelled really well with the whole team and is taking a very calm approach - the mechanics also like him because each of his runs is so long, a minimum of around 12 laps, so they get the chance to have a rest!
"It is now a long time until Loris and Álvaro get to test again, we really wish Loris could have been here in Estoril, but the regulations are what they are and we are grateful to have had this opportunity to point us in the right direction as Suzuki strives to become competitive in 2010."
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